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Sports
Nov. 26, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Longtime boxing ref Gibson found dead

By STEVE CARP
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Toby Gibson
Las Vegan, 61, spent 25 years working boxing matches worldwide

Longtime Nevada boxing referee Toby Gibson, who spent more than two decades working fights worldwide, died at his Las Vegas home Monday night.

Gibson, 61, was found dead in the garage around 7:30 p.m. by his wife, Barbara.


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    • The Clark County Coroner's office said the cause of Gibson's death is pending.

    "The entire boxing community is saddened," fellow referee and close friend Jay Nady said Tuesday. "He was a wonderful man. He was always making people laugh, and he had a big heart. His was the shoulder everyone leaned on and laid their burdens on."

    A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Gibson spent 25 years working as a referee. He died 48 hours after working two fights on the undercard of Saturday's Ricky Hatton-Paulie Malignaggi fight at the MGM Grand Garden. He was the referee for Matthew Hatton's 10-round unanimous decision win over Ben Tackie.

    "He seemed normal, and everything was fine when I saw him Saturday," said Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission. "He did a very good job on the Hatton-Tackie fight.

    "I'm very shocked and sad. Toby was well-liked by everybody, and we'll definitely miss him."

    Gibson officiated several title fights. He recently refereed a card in Japan and was scheduled to work the undercard of the Oscar De La Hoya-Manny Pacquiao fight Dec. 6 at the MGM.

    "He was a solid referee,'' said Marc Ratner, former executive director of the NAC. "He probably worked as many fights as a referee in Nevada over the last 25 years as anyone.''

    Funeral arrangements are pending. In addition to his wife, Gibson is survived by two children from a previous marriage, daughter Erica and son Chris.

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    jeff "spot" sylvia wrote on December 03, 2008 06:29 PM: glad our paths crossed...thanks for teaching me the "ropes" back in the day...and especially, how to make it all fun.....


    Richard McCann wrote on November 30, 2008 09:55 PM: I had the recent honor of representing Toby involving a legal matter. We were successful in that case and now his sudden death comes as a great shock. I enjoyed my brief association with Toby and he will be terribly missed. Rest in Peace, Toby . . . .


    Jennifer wrote on November 28, 2008 09:50 AM: I had the pleasure of working with Toby at the Excalibur hotel & casino, He was tough as nails when he needed to be but, like the article says he had a shoulder for everyone no questions asked. But when it can to giving advice he firmly believed in telling it just like he saw it. A very kind and honest man and I for one will surely miss him.


    Shannon wrote on November 26, 2008 02:18 PM: A dear friend of mine. Toby will be missed by many.


    hawaii5o wrote on November 26, 2008 12:02 PM: Has anyone seen Don King lately?HOW ABOUT aL sHARPTON?